by Noella Noelophile®
Justin Rudd at Operation Easter Basket assembly in 2019.
Today is Ash Wednesday. Forty days till Easter.
While it’s going to look very different, Long Beach’s “Operation Easter Basket” is NOT cancelled.
Long Beach “Chief Inspiration Officer”, community activist Justin Rudd, emails that he’ll be accepting completed Easter baskets this year, for distribution to underprivileged youth.
By necessity, this is vastly different from previous years. The pandemic precludes the festive drop-off/Easter basket construction process that’s been a Long Beach Easter week tradition for 17 years now.
Even Bay Shore Church’s kitchen filled up with baskets for delivery to local nonprofits during Easter week, 2019.
But the love is there, and so is nonprofit Community Action Team.
Justin says he can accept ONLY completed Easter baskets, during Easter week. Baskets can be dropped off on his front porch in the Belmont Shore area. With Easter falling on Sunday, April 4th, that would mean marking the calendar from Palm Sunday, March 28th, right up through Saturday, April 3.
You can email Justin to find out what’s needed most at Justin@JustinRudd.com.
In 2019, “Operation Easter Basket” donated more than 3,800 baskets to 31 organizations in the Long Beach area.
In the past, completed baskets have included body wash, shampoo, school supplies, a small toy and personal-hygiene items such as deodorant and toothbrushes. And, of course, Easter candy! And baskets can be for ages newborn up to sixteen years of age.
(One cautionary note: if you’re including chocolate rabbits, be sure Justin knows they’re there so he can put them someplace cooler. I distinctly remember one onsite “Operation Easter Basket” where we had to do a quick emergency replacement after a bunny melted!)
(Royalty-free image by Quang Nguyen vinh from Pixabay.)
Meanwhile, Justin continues his nonprofit “30-Minute Beach Clean-Up”, the third Saturday of every month. He’ll be at the concrete boat launch at 1 Granada this Saturday at 9:30, with the clean-up starting at 10. And you’re invited to come down and help! (Street parking is free.). This is a free event; here’s the link for registration.
Safety protocols are as follows: Everyone must wear a mask. There will be no gathering. And Justin will bring and distribute bags and gloves, so all you need to do is show up, stay social-distanced and help keep everyone healthy.
Take care, stay safe, and have a healthy almost-Spring!